Executive Secretary, Office of; annual trauma-informed education for certain court personnel.

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not specify that the training is limited to cases involving sexual abuse and family violence, but it implies these are key areas covered in the education.

Annual Trauma-Informed Education for Court Workers

This law requires certain court personnel to receive annual training on trauma-informed practices in cases involving sexual abuse and family violence.

What This Bill Does

• Requires the Office of the Executive Secretary of the Supreme Court of Virginia to provide annual continuing legal education on trauma-informed practices for specific court personnel.

Who It Names or Affects

• Magistrates, clerks, judges in juvenile and domestic relations district courts, general district courts, circuit courts, and other court employees.

Terms To Know

trauma-informed practices

Ways of working that understand the effects of trauma on people and aim to prevent further harm.

victim impact testimony

Statements from victims about how a crime has affected them personally.

Limits and Unknowns

• The bill does not specify what happens if court workers do not complete the required training.
• It is unclear when this law will start because there is no effective date listed.

Official Summary Text

Office of the Executive Secretary; annual trauma-informed education for certain court personnel.
Requires the Office of the Executive Secretary of the Supreme Court of Virginia to provide annual continuing legal education on trauma-informed practices in proceedings involving sexual abuse or abuse of a family or household member to magistrates, clerks, judges of juvenile and domestic relations district courts, general district courts, and circuit courts, and other court employees.

Current Bill Text

A BILL to direct the Office of the Executive Secretary of the Supreme Court of Virginia to provide annual trauma-informed education for certain court personnel.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1.
§ 1.
That the Office of the Executive Secretary of the Supreme Court of Virginia shall provide

annual
continuing legal education
on
trauma-informed practices
in
matters relating to proceedings involving sexual abuse or abuse of a family or household member to

magistrates
,
clerks,
judges of the juvenile domestic relations district court
s
, general district court
s
, and circuit court
s
, and other court
employees
.
The content of such continuing legal education shall be determined by the
Department of
Educational Services of the Office of the Executive Secretary
but shall include
victim impact testimony
.